Farage’s Clacton-on-Sea constituency worst ‘tree desert’ in England, research shows | Access to green space
Nigel Farage’s Clacton-on-Sea constituency is a “tree desert”, leaving people more exposed to air pollution, poorer health conditions, lower life expectancy and the impact of rising temperatures, according to a new report.
The Essex town is rated as the worst performing town in England for equal access to trees; The highest proportion of city residents (98.2%) live in neighborhoods where access to trees is critically low.
The research, which covers the whole of the UK, found a significant north-south divide, with the 15 worst-performing towns and cities for tree cover located in the north. Hartlepool’s population has particularly low access to trees; 86.9% of residents are at risk due to lack of access.
Caroline Gray, Woodland Trust tree equity program officer, said: “More than a million people in the UK live in these ‘tree deserts’, places with critically low tree equity, where communities are cut off from the many benefits that trees provide.
“This could mean hotter homes and streets, dirtier air, higher rates of asthma and heart disease, and poorer physical and mental health. These challenges impact daily life in countless ways and, when combined with wider inequalities, can even contribute to reduced life expectancy.”
A lack of trees in urban areas puts people at greater risk of stress, anxiety, depression and poor physical health. research suggests. Trees in urban environments reduce the risk of flooding, keep the air clean and protect from rising temperatures.
The north-east has been identified as the region with the highest number of “tree deserts”, with 13 of the worst-performing English towns. London and the south-east are the best areas for access to tree density, including Woking and Tunbridge Wells; There are five best-performing areas in the capital, including Lambeth, Islington and Hackney.
Gray said everyone should have easy and close access to the environmental and health benefits of trees, known as tree equity. However, wealthier areas have a greater abundance of trees, while areas of social deprivation have far fewer trees.
The Woodland Trust said tree equity should be included in urban planning and planted trees should be cared for and protected to ensure they continue to thrive in the years to come and improve the quality of life for residents.
Gray added that the aim is not to criticize local officials but to raise awareness of where people are most impacted to encourage greater support, investment and action. “Local schools and communities can apply for our free trees; we want to support local authorities and the people who live there.”
Councilor Adrian Smith, Tendring District Council (TDC) Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Description of areas such as Clacton as a ‘wood desert’ does not reflect the reality on the ground. More than 40,000 trees have been planted in Tendring in recent years through the Tendring Woodland Enterprise Group and with support from partners including the Essex Forest Initiative. The council has also planted more than 1,500 trees in many of our areas. As part of the Urban Tree Challenge Fund, more than 40,000 trees have been planted in Tendring. “Open spaces that help strengthen tree cover in our areas and bring the benefits of green infrastructure closer to residents, as well as community-led planting projects, memorial tree additions to our cemeteries and ongoing maintenance programs further demonstrate our commitment to increasing biodiversity and improving green spaces across the region.”
Rankings reflect the scale of the population exposed low tree equity, rather than identifying areas with the lowest overall tree cover. Tree equity not only measures abundance, but also reflects whether areas have sufficient tree cover to meet local needs; For example, in areas with high air pollution, the need for access to tree cover will be greater than in a region with cleaner air.
Trees in urban areas create habitats for wildlife, help prevent floods by acting as natural sponges and umbrellas, improve air quality and keep cities and towns shaded and cool. But they are constantly under development threat and, in many areas, stressed by climate collapse.
In many cities, including Plymouth and Sheffield, the cutting down of urban trees has sparked public protests.
